donathan



March 1 1927.

w. F. DONATHAN FRAUD PREVENTER FOR COIN CONTROLLED DEVICES 2 Sheets-5heet 1 Original Filed Nov. 30, 1925 Inventor 7/ 1T flolmlfza-m Attorney 1,619,247 March 1 1927' w. F. DONATHAN FRAUD PREVENTERVFOR COIN CONTROLLED DEVICES Original Filed Nov. 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor /4.4- Y W 1. ZOZZQZ/MW,

Attorney Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM IE. DONATHAN, OF WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO STEPHEN J.

GRAHAM, OF TUCKER-MALT, ARKANSAS.

FRAUD rnnvzeivrnn ron COIN-CONTROLLED :onvrons.

Original application filed November 30, 1925, Serial No. 72,375. Divided and this application filed March This is a divisional application of my copending application filed. November th, 1925, and bearing Serial Number 72,375.

The present invention relates to improvements in fraud prevention devices for coin con trolled mechanisms.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and efiicient means for testing a coin which is dropped into themachine prior to the coin reaching the coin controlled mechanism of the vending machine so that slugs and the like will be prevented from actuating the coin controlled mechanism.

Another important object is to provide a fraud preventing device of the above mentioned character which is adapted to receive and test coins of various denominations.

A still further object is to provide a fraud preventing device of the class described which will bend and mutilate slugs which are inserted in the machine so as to prevent such a check actuating the coin controlled mechanism of a vending machine, the mutilated slugs being thrown out of the machine.

A; further object is to provide a fraud 1 preventing device for coin controlled mechanisms, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong, and durable, and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the fraud preventing device embodying my invention showing the same arranged in the upper portion of a coin controlled vending machine,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on line 3 3 of Figure 2 with parts shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the deflector plate forming a part of the present invention and Serial No. 94,820.

Figure 5 device.

For the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the fraud preventing device embodied in the present invention is associated with the coin controlled mechanism of a vending machine, I have shown in the drawings, such parts of the vending machine as are essential.

In the drawings, the numeral 4; designates the outer casing of a vending machine which is adapted for rotation about the stationary inner casing 19 in the manner which is more fully described in another divisional application covering the vending machine structure per se.

A cover 23 is disposed over the opening 18 formed in the central portion of the cover 17 which is provided for the top of the casing 4:, and this cover 23 is supported in a stationary manner by means of the bracket 24, the lower ends of the latter being secured to the inner wallof the stationary casing 19. The central portion of the cover 23 is thickened and arranged therein are the vertical coin receiving slots 25, 26, and 27 respectively. The slot 25 is of such diameter as to be adapted to receive a five-cent piece; the slot 26 being adapted to receive a ten-cent piece, and the slot 27 a twenty-five cent piece. Suitable indicating means such as is shown at 28 is associated with each of the slots.

The construction of the fraud preventing device will now be specifically described.

Carried by the bottom of the cover 23 and extending downwardly into the upper portion of the stationary casing 19 are the coin chutes 29, 30, and 31 respectively. The upper ends of these coin chutes register with the bottom of the respective coin receiving slots, and these chutes are also of such width as to receive coins of a predetermined denomination.

A transversely extending relatively thick shaft 32 is journaled at its respective ends in the frame 33 and is adapted for rotation therein, this shaft being disposed directly below the lower ends of the respective coin chutes which depend from the bottom of the cover a3. The frame 33 is supported on the bracket 33', the latter being secured on the top of the coin controlled supporting blocks in the manner clearly shown in the is a diagrammatic view of the drawings. This shaft 32 has formed therein at predetermined places, the coin receiving pockets 34-, 85 and 36 respectively. This is more clearly illustrated in Figurel of the drawings. These pockets cooperate ith the.

which are formed in tile shaft. As is shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2, each roller is journal'ed for rotation in the upper portion of the bracket 38, the lower end of which ispivotally supported at 39 in the frame. This will permit the swinging movement of each roller toward and a oy from the shaft 32.

A curved flat spring ll.) is secured at its lowcrend on the frame directly behind each bracket 38, the upper free end of each spring being in engagement with the upper rear portion of the respective bracket for normally forcing the knurled rollers toward the shaft 32. The set screws i1 which are threaded transversely through the supports 42 therefor at the rear longitudinal sides of the frame 33 engage the respective spring elements for adjusting the tension thereof.

A substantially rectangular plate L3 is rigidly secured in a longitudinal cut out portion provided there-for in the shaft ii and the latter is provided with suitable trunnion'slaat its respective ends. These trunnions are journaled' in the respective ends ofthe frame 33 so that the rotatable shaft Ji l is disposed longitudinally in the frame and below the aforementioned shaft 32 and slightly rearwardly thereof as is shown more clearly in Figure 2.

The shafts 32 and i lare adapted for simultaneous rotation through the medium of the intermeshing gears 46 and all r spectively. An elongated hopper 418 is arranged below the shaft 44, and the rear side thereof is cut away as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 ofthe drawings for cooperation with the deflector plate which is secured on the shafts-l Extending downwardly from the bottom of the hopper 48' and communicating therewith are 'the additional coin chutes 4:9. 50, and 51 respectively. These additional. coin chutes are preferably arrangedin alignment with the aforementioned coin receiving pockets which are formed in the rotatable shaft 32.

As is more clearly illustrated in Figure 3, the coin chutes 49, 50, and 51 are disposed directly below the coin chutes 29, 30, and8l respectively. The lower ends of the coinchutes 49, 50, and 51 are slightly cut away to accommodate the various coin receiving discs forming a part of the coin controlled mechanism which in the present instance is designated generally by the numoral F2. The construction of the coin controlled mechanism has been more fully disclosed and described in my copending application bearing Serial Number 72,375.

The actuating means for the fraud preventing device comprises a vertical driven shaft 75, the upper end of which extends upwardly through a substantially U-shaped bracket 76 which is arranged on the front side of the frame A relatively short shaft 89 is journa lcd for rotation between the arms of the ll-shapcd bracket 76. A gear 90 is carried by the outer end of the shaft 89, and the same meshes with the gear all which is carried by the shaft 82. The shaft 89 is rotated through the mediunr of intermcshing beveled gears 9L and 92 which are carried by the upper end of the shaft 75 and the inlcrmediate portion of the transverse shaft till respectively. This construction is clearly illustrated .in Figures .1 and 3 of the draw ings.

As the manner in which the shaft T5 is operated, and also the manner in which the same actuates the coin controlled mechanism is fully covered in my atoremcutioned copending application bearing Serial hie. 72,375, a further explainition thereof in this application is thought unnecessary.

rrdapted to be associated with the fraud preventing device is an additional hopper l-il-li, the same being arranged at the rear side of the hopper 4th and adjacent the coin chutes 4:9, 50 and 51. Projecting upwardly from the front face of th 1 additional hopper ill is the lip ll-i', the same being adapted for cooperation with the dcllcrlor plate l l which is inclined downwardly from lhc rear side of the hopper is. This conslruclion is clearly illustrated in Figure 5 of the draw ings.

A co n chute ll!) extends from lhc llUliUill of (he hopper lid. and this chulc is disposed toward the front of lhe machine so lhal the discharge end thereof will counounicalc with the delivery chulc (not shown in the prevent ai'iplication but is clearly llill. il'lll((l and dw scribed in n'iy copcnding :ipplicalioni The operation of the fraud prevcnlin r dcvice may be briefly stated as follows. llhco the proper coin is iileposilcd in one ol lhc coin receiving slots provided in the cover 1)."). it will readily be seen [but the coin will by gravity passdownwardly through the rcspective chute and will be (llSllHlltIlll illl'l the pocket provided therefor in llic shall and which pocket is disposed in rcg ii-ilnr with the particular slot in the cover 2;, in which the coin was initially ini-zerted. The shaft 89 will be driven by the shaft "in when the latter is actuated, and the shaft will Sfi Ill]

iii!) therefore also be rotated. The shaft n will rotate simultaneous with the actuation of the al orementioned shaft, as is readily obvious from the construction shown in Figure 2. As the shaft 32 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the coin will be moved into engagement with the spring pressed knurled roller 37 which disposed adjacent the shaft 32 in which the pockets are formed. ll: the proper coin has been inserted in the machine, the coin will pass the roller without being bent and will fall upon the plate 4L3 which will then be in a position shown in the full line in Figure 5 of the drawing, thus acting as a guide for deflecting the coin into the hopper l8. from which the same passes through one of the chutes and is discharged into the coin controlled mechanism 52.

Should a. slug or other 'lrai'lulent checks be inserted in any one of the slots 55, 26, and 27, such a slug will enter one of the pockets "formed in the shaft 323, depending upon the size of the slug inserted, and when the shai't is actuated, to eli'ect the rotation oi? the shaft 32, the slug will also move toward the knurled roller 37, and if the slug is of a soft material, the spring press d roller 37 will cooperate with the shaft 32 to etl'ect the bending or mutilation of the slug in the manner as shown very clearly in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The spring pressed roller which bends the slug will be in engagement with the outer edge portion of the slug during the rotation of the shaft 82 and the shaft on which the deflector plate 43 is secured, and during the bending operation, the rotation of said shalt *ill be retarded. By reason of the slug be ing bent, the same will therefore remain in one of the pockets in the shaft 32 for a longer period than would a proper coin and therefore by the time the pocket in the shaft 32 ms reached the position which will permit thebent slug'to fan out of the pocket by gravity, the deflector plate 43 will have assumed the position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 5.

The plate 4-3 will then provide a closure for the hopper 48 and when the bent or mutilated slug is discharged'from the shaft 32, the same will fall upon the plate 4:3 and instead oi" being dropped into the hopper 48, the same will fall into the hopper 146 and will by gravity pass downwardly through the chute 14:9 and will be discharged out into the delivery chute (not shown), thus returning the slug to theperson attempting to 0peratc the machine and at the same time preventing any merchandise being discharged from the machine as well as preventing any possibility of the proper coins which are contained within the change holding magazines arranged in the machine beii'ig discharged with the packages.

In order to prevent slugs which are formed may be magnetized. As the shaft 32 1'0 tates, it will carry with it in one of the pockets formed therein such a slug and when the slug or check reaches the magnetized portion of the trame, said coin will be automatically displaced from its pocket in the shaft 352 be :l'ore the plate has moved to the position shown in the 'lull lines, and will also cause such a slug to bereturneijl or discharged to the person attempting to operate the ma.- chine.

A fraud preventing device of the above i'nentioned character may be associated with any type of a vending machine which employs a coin controlled operating mechanism. The present device will test the coins which will be deposited in the machines so that slugs will be prevented from being used to operate the machine.

Furthern'iore, the provision of aslug handling mechanism or the above mentioned character will prevent any possibility of a loss being sustained by the owner or operator oi the vending machine.

The construction of the device will not in any way interfere with the actuation of the coin controlled mechanism when a proper coin is inserted in the machine. The simplicity in which my improved device is constructed renders the same easily and readily assembled and will furthermore be inexpensive, yetst-rong and durable, and at all times positive and etlicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrai'igement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, wha- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A fraud preventing device comprising a rotatable shaft provided with a coin receiving pocket, a spring pressed roller supported adjacent the shaft and cooperating with the shaft to bend a slug placed in said pocket when the shaft is rotated, and a de flector operatively associated with sa d shaft and disposed below the shaft and said roller.

2. In combination with a coin controlled actuating mechanism, a fraud preventing device associated therewith con'iprising a coin receiving means, a spring pressed member cooperating with said coin receiving means to bend. a slug inserted therein, and a deflector operatively associated with said shaft and disposed below the shaft and said roller for preventing the slug operating said coin controlled actuatingmechanism.

3. In combination with acoin controlled at; ner s i7 actuating mechanism, a fraud preventing device arranged above said mechanism and comprising a coin receivlng means, a spring pressed member cooperating with said coin receiving means to bend a slug inserted therein, and a deflector member operatively when the shaft is rotated, a hopper arranged til) below the shaft, and a rotatable plate operativelyconnected to said shaft for guiding a. mutilated slug into said hoppe 5. fraud preventing device for a coin controlled mechanism comprising in combination, a rotatable shaft provided with a coin receivingpocket, a spring pressed roller supported adjacent said pocket and cooperating with the shaft to bend a slug placed in the pocket when the shaft is rotated, a hopper arranged below said shaft and adapted to deliver coins to the'coin controlled mechanism, ancl neans arranged above said hopper and operatively connected to said shaft for preventing a slug entering the hopper when discharged from the pocket in said shaft.

6. A fraud preventing device for a coin controlled mechanism comprising in combination, a rotatable shaft provided with a coin receiving. pocket, a spring pressed roller supported adjacent said pocket and cooperating with the shaft to bend a slug placed in the pocket when the shaft is rotated. a hopper arranged below said shaft and adapted to deliver coins to the coin controlled mechanism, means arranged above said hoppcr for preventing a slug entering the hop per when discharged from the pocket in said shaft, said last. mentioned means con'iprising a deflector member operahly associated with the shaft to provide a closure for the hopper when in one position.

7. A fraud preventing device for a coin controlled mechanism comprising in combinati.on,a rotatable shaft provided with a coin receiving pocket, a spring pressed roller supported adjacent said pocket and cooperating with the shaft to bend a slug placed in the pocket when the shaft is rotaterh hopper arranged below said shaft and adapted to deliver coins to the coin controlled mechanism, means arranged above said hop per for preventing a slug entering the hop per when discharged from the pocket in sa d shaft, said last mentioned means con'i 'irising a deflector member ope "ably associated with the shaft to provide a closure for the hopper when in one position said deflector memhcr further providing a guide chute for dclivcring a proper coin to said hopper when in another position.

8. A fraud preventii'ig device for a coin controlled n'iecl'ianism comprising in combinatioin a rotatable shaft provided with a coin receiving pocket a spring pressed roller supported adjacent said pocket and cooperating with the shaft to bend a slug placed in the pocket when the shaft is rotated, a hopper disposed below the shaft and adapted to deliver coins to the coin controlled mechanism. an additional hopper arranged adjacent the aforcmcntioned hopper, and ireans o urratirely connected to said shaft and arranged above the first mcntionml hopper to prevent slugs entering the same when disposed in one position. said means when disposed in such position providing a guide to deliver the slugs to the :uhlitional hopper.

9. A fraud preventing device for a coin controlled mechanism COlT11 )1iSllil' in combination, a rotatable shaft provided with a coin receiving pocket, a spring pressed roller supported adjacent said pocket and cooperating with the shaft to bend a. slug placed in the pocket when the shaft is rotated, a hopper disposed below the shaft and adapted to deliver coins to the coin controlled mechanism an additional hopper arranged adjacent the aforementioned hopper. means arranged above thelirst mentioned hopper to prevent slugs entering the same when dis posed in one position. said means when disposed in such position providing a guide to deliver the slugs to the :ulditional hopper, said meanscomprising a dctlcctor plate operably associated with the shaft.

10. A fraud preventing device for a coin controlled mechanism comprising in combination. a frame, a rotatable shaft mounted therein, said shaft having a series of coin receiving pockets formed therein. a series of brackets pivotally supportcd at their lowcr ends in the frame adjacent w said shaft. :1 knurled roller journaled for rotation in the upper portion of each of said pivoted brackets and disposed adjaccnt tho rcspcctive coin receiving pockets, resilient means associated with the bracltct for normally urging the rollers toward the shaft. said rollers cooperating with the shaft to bcnd slugs placed in the pocket when (ho shaft; is rotated.

11. A fraud preventing device for a coin controlled mechanism com irising in combi nation. a rotatable shaft provided with a coin receiving pocket. a spring pres ed roller supported adjacent the pocket and cooperating with the shaft to bend a slug placed in the pocket when the shaft is rotated. a hopper disposed below the shaft and adapted to deliver coins to said coin controlled mechanism, the rear side of said hopper belit] ing cut away, an additional hopper arranged adjacent the rear side of the aforementioned hopper and disposed below the same, ooaoting inclined lips formed on the rear side of the first mentioned hopper and at the top in the front side of said last mentioned hopper respectively, and means operatively connected to said shaft and arranged above the first mentioned hopper to prevent slugs entering the same When disposed in one posi- 10 tion, said means when in such position providing a guide to deliver the slug to the aforementioned additional hopper.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM F. DONATHAN. 

